Step by Step Guide

How the accreditation process works (this process will take up to six months):

STEP 1. Expression of Interest

Complete an expression of interest form and email it to Philip Davies at admin@meab.co.uk Indicate when you might like to have your initial visit.

STEP 2. Preparation of Schools Form (S1)
Start working with your team on revisiting your Montessori values and practice and complete the self evaluation Schools Form S1 This form will give the assessor information about your school and how you operate.

The 'How to Prepare' page of this section offers valuable guidance on this part of the process.

STEP 3. Submit Schools Form (S1), Prepare for Initial Visit by Assessor

When you have submitted your S1 the administrator will liaise with MEAB assessors to set a date for your initial visit, and with you to agree the date of this visit.

The assessor (or team of assessors for larger schools) will contact you prior to the visit to introduce him/herself and to get travel directions and finalise the details of the visit.

It is not your responsibility to organise accommodation for the assessor, should it be needed (this applies to U.K. settings only).

In preparation for the assessor visit, use the document checklist Form S2, which will help ensure that you have all the written evidence for the statements made in your S1 form.

STEP 4. Initial Visit by Assessor

The assessor will initially spend a day in your setting; in particularly large settings you may have two assessors. They will observe, talk to children, parents, the owner, manager and staff. They will also look at your documents.

At the end of the visit they will give you feedback. You can decide who will sit in on the feedback. They will make verbal recommendations to you during this feedback.

STEP 5. Assessor's Initial Report

After the visit the assessor will write the Initial Report, which will include the recommendations. This will be emailed to you to check its factual accuracy and for you to complete the action plan section of the form, which will demonstrate how you will work towards the recommendations set. You will also need to suggest a date for the second visit.

You will need to return this Report to the administrator within two weeks of receiving it.

STEP 6. Preparation for Assessor's Second Visit

Once you return your Report form, the MEAB administrator will liaise with you to agree a realistic time-scale for your second visit (this is normally around three months from your initial visit).

Having satisfied yourself that you are working towards the recommendations you will liaise with the administrator to finalise arrangements for the second visit.

STEP 7. Second Visit by Assessor

This will follow a similar format to the initial visit, the assessor will look at all aspects of your practice and, in particular, at the progress you have made with the recommendations.

Verbal feedback will be given and the assessor will then prepare the Final Report and one of the following statements will be made:

• The school provides an education in accordance with the principles of the Montessori approach and environment and merits accreditation by the Montessori Evaluation and Accreditation Board

• The school provides an education which follows the principles of the Montessori approach and environment. The school has successfully achieved the points for action recommended on the first visit, and this merits accreditation by the Montessori Evaluation and Accreditation Board. Consideration should be given to the following points for further development:

• The school has made progress since the first visit; however, significant points for action remain that need to be addressed before accreditation by the Montessori Evaluation and Accreditation Board is merited. These points are:

STEP 8. Assessor's Final Report

This report should reach the MEAB office within three to five working days and will be read several times before it is presented to the Report Monitoring Group (RMG). They scrutinise all reports for consistency of content and presentation. If agreed by the RMG the report will then be sent to you for your final comment on its factual accuracy.

STEP 9. Accreditation Awarded

All reports (Initial and Final) will remain private and confidential and will not be ready for circulation to your parents until they receive final validation by the Montessori Evaluation and Accreditation Board who meet twice yearly. You will be notified of the date of the next meeting.

Once the accreditation has been validated by MEAB you will receive an electronic and a paper copy of your Final Report. The Report will be included on this website and linked to the school�s entry on the MSA database.

You and your team will be invited to the next MEAB awards to receive your accreditation plaque and celebrate your achievement.

The MEAB accreditation is valid for three years and you will be contacted three months prior to the accreditation expiring to invite you to prepare for reaccreditation.

It will take approximately six to eight months between the MEAB office receving your S1 form and the final report being published following its validation by the MEAB board.

Receiving accreditation carries the expectation that settings continue to develop and work on the issues highlighted in the accreditation reports.

If you would like to register your interest in MEAB please contact

the administrator, Philip Davies, on 0207 493 8300 or admin@meab.co.uk

If you have questions regarding your setting's preparation for assessment please contact the Deputy Accreditation Officer, michele@montessori.co.uk